The Magpies may well have emerged from the transfer window having secured all of their star names such as Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote.

However, after witnessing the 1-1 draw with the Villans, it was Ben Arfa’s presence that spared Newcastle’s blushes during the Sabbath clash with Paul Lambert’s side.

Right now Ben Arfa is worth his weight in gold to the Magpies.

And if it takes giving the player special treatment from the United backroom staff to get the best out of him, then Alan Pardew and Co need to keep up the good work.

Whether it’s an understanding arm around the shoulder, the ability to listen and absorb the player’s output at the training ground, or simply making him feel like a football God, it has to be worth it – especially on days like yesterday.

Up until his wonder goal just before the hour mark, United had looked lacklustre and disinterested.

Their set-pieces were notably poor and the service to Ba and Cisse was substandard.

Even then the two Dembas were struggling to make anything happen off their own back.

Cabaye appears to be suffering from a hangover after a long summer, and there was a lack of end product from Jonas Gutierrez.

Aston Villa were the side who did all of the hard work in the first hour when it came to closing their opponents down.

And after the second half had started in similar fashion to the first, it looked like Villa were going to cause something of a shock.

But then up stepped Ben Arfa.

Quite simply he looked like the only player capable of dragging the Magpies back into it.

His goal breathed new life into the game – and into United too.

Newcastle looked like a team that needed some help and when it came to answering an emergency it was Ben Arfa who provided the 999 call.

The French talisman’s superb strike means that United are now just one away from their 1,000th goal in the Premier League. It saved the day all right, and even if Newcastle could have snatched a later winner, when Cabaye’s free-kick was superbly saved by Brad Guzan, it probably wouldn’t have been deserved.

At least that was as much as Pardew admitted after the game.

So with the window firmly closed and United now knowing they must battle on until January with what they have, what did we learn from this performance?

Certainly the squad has limits.

Ryan Taylor is out for the foreseeable future and he will be joined by Danny Simpson in the treatment room, leaving a question mark over the right-back slot.

Sure, Vurnon Anita did a decent enough job when dropping back into the position to cover – but how many layers has Pardew got after that? At least we saw the togetherness and spirit of the squad – even if that was before the game.

United may have resisted the opportunity to strengthen towards the end of transfer deadline day. But there was a major show of unity as the two teams walked out – Newcastle stars donning tracksuit tops with “Ryan Taylor Over The Wall” emblazoned across the back.

The build-up to the Villa game had featured plenty of analysis from fans claiming that Pardew’s squad lacks serious depth.

With no striker on the bench due to injuries to Shola and Sammy Ameobi, plus Ryan Taylor missing, those fears started to turn into genuine concern on 37 minutes when Simpson hobbled off. By that time United were 1-0 down after Ciaran Clark’s 20th-minute header – a goal that the visitors just about deserved.

The Magpies had started brightly enough with some attacking play down the right and through the centre, but these raids towards the Leazes End resulted in only half-chances.

Villa rode their luck a little when Cisse’s 29th-minute effort was deflected wide, while Ba’s contributions were no more than a couple of range finders which didn’t trouble Brad Guzan.

United fans expressed their restlessness in the early part of the second half and this appeared to be transmitted to the players.

Yet Ben Arfa was the only one to pick up on it – and the only one capable of doing something about.

It would be unfair not to heap praise on Gael Bigirimana, but there is plenty of room for improvement elsewhere.

Pardew had said before the game he wanted more from the likes of Ba and Cisse.

With two weeks to rest and recuperate, Newcastle will need more too at Everton in a fortnight.

The start of the season has by no means been a disaster for the black and whites.

They remain unbeaten at home and have only slipped up against a strong Chelsea side. Europa League progress has also been a plus.

Many Newcastle fans will reserve judgement a little longer. But how many will come to the conclusion that failure to strengthen this summer will prevent the Magpies building on last season's top-five finish?

Ryder’s verdict: Thankfully Hatem Ben Arfa has made the next fortnight more bearable.

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